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Letters to the editor for Feb. 9

February 08, 2012

Hemp may be the answer

It is hard to imagine a world without paper; its countless uses have made it a necessity in todays world. It is estimated that we use around 71 million tons of paper each year here in the United States, and the paper industry has evolved the production process to a precise and efficient science.

Yet, what if I was to tell you that there is an even cheaper and more efficient way of creating paper that could also create a multitude of jobs for us here in the state of Kentucky? What if I was to also tell you that this new fibrous material could create paper that lasted hundreds of years longer and did not need any hazardous chlorines or bleaching chemicals to treat? Sounds pretty good, right? the answer is one word: hemp. One acre of hemp can create as much paper as 10 acres of trees over a 20-year cycle and could be just the thing Kentucky needs to get back on its feet.

Although most people know nothing about hemp, it is not new to our state. Before 1883, 75-90 percent of all paper produced was from hemp, and Kentucky was one of the highest producers with most of the crop grown in the Bluegrass. Trees contain only 30 percent cellulose, which can be used in the process of making paper; the other 70 percent must be removed using toxic chemicals. Nearly 85 percent of hemp is cellulose and it can be harvested in as little as four months, versus the lengthy 20-year minimum for trees. Focusing tree use on only the key necessities such as lumber could drastically improve prices on construction costs, create a new niche for Kentucky, and greatly benefit our environment for future generations.
Cody Meek,
WIlmore

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